Christmas tradition days away

Wednesday

Dec 16, 2015 at 11:01 AM

For the Cone family, "The Nutcracker" is a sure sign the holidays have arrived. And this weekend, three generations of Cones will once again enjoy the masterpiece that has become both a family tradition and a family affair.

For the Cone family, "The Nutcracker" is a sure sign the holidays have arrived. And this weekend, three generations of Cones will once again enjoy the masterpiece that has become both a family tradition and a family affair.

When the Bartlesville Civic Ballet performed its first full performance of the beloved ballet back in 1975, Don and Carol Ann Cone were part of the festive opening scene as a couple going to a holiday party. This year, the couple will enjoy watching three of their granddaughters perform "The Nutcracker" on the stage.

The two-act ballet will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bartlesville Community Center and will feature special guest artists Dmitry Trubchanov from St. Petersburg, Russia, and Whitney Jensen, who began her ballet training in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"We’ve been going a long time ago. We’re strong supporters of the ballet and love watching it every year," said Don Cone.

Also looking forward to this year’s show, Carol Ann added, "We never miss a year. Every year we go."

The Cone’s granddaughter, Elise Cone, is slated to portray Clara while her two sisters, Mary and Emma, will dance in several major roles.

The family ties don’t end there, either. The girls’ parents, Todd and Liz Cone, will perform this year as hosts of the Christmas party scene. In prior years, they also played the roles of party guests.

"This year is pretty special. ‘The Nutcracker’ is part of our family Christmas tradition. I love the story and being part of it," said Todd Cone, who performed as the young Fritz nearly 40 years ago.

"I was sitting on the steps of Miss Charlotte’s studio just waiting to pick up my sister, and the next thing I knew Charlotte Lyke said ‘You’re going to be Fritz this year,’" said Todd Cone, whose two sons have since played the coveted role. "I was kind of nervous being a fifth-grader, but it was a lot of fun and it was quite a bit of practicing right up to the performance."

Indeed, his parents also remember the long, but fulfilling nights of Sunday night rehearsals.

"We rehearsed then for several, several hours, because it was the only time the couples could get together. Then during the week of production, you were on stage. You have all these dances and practice with the music and all of sudden you were on stage," explained Don Cone.

"Miss Charlotte was a good rehearsal director. She was very precise and demanding of what she wanted and when and it had to go exactly right. She was very particular and has always put on a great show."

During the 1970s, as Don and Carol Ann played the roles as parents and party guests, all three of their children — Todd, Scott and LeeAnne — often filled the role as dancing children, cookies and mice.

"Lee Anne and Curtis DeLapp were couples and their children were in the production when they were little," said Cone, adding that the early day productions were performed at the old Civic Center, which was demolished to make way for the Bartlesville Public Library.

The Bartlesville ballet scene received a boost in 1982, when the Bartlesville Community Center was built, complete with modern architecture and professional performance spaces.

He added that they’ve enjoyed watching the Nutcracker throughout the years.

"Charlotte just recruited people in the community and people who were involved in things and people she knew. And if you had done it before, then it would be less training, so it was easier on her if you know," said Cone.

The Cones have offered behind-the-curtain support as well as performing on-stage roles over the decades. In fact, for several years, they donated the family sofa as a stage prop for the "fainting grandmother scene."

The family is especially looking forward to this year’s production, featuring their grandchildren as well as new arrangements and performers.

"Our production is equal to the one that’s put on in Tulsa, so I think that’s a real positive thing for Bartlesville that they can do a production like ‘The Nutcracker’ and do it well and they always have," said Carol Ann Cone.

"It’s a difficult production and for a community like Bartlesville to be able to have a production of ‘The Nutcracker’ is a real plus for the community," added Don Cone.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.